Character Type and Trope Thesaurus Entry: Creator

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different archetypes to come up with interesting new versions. The result is a sizable pool of character tropes that we see from one story to another.

Archetypes and tropes are popular storytelling elements because of their familiarity. Upon seeing them, readers know immediately who they’re dealing with and what role the nerd, dark lord, femme fatale, or monster hunter will play. As authors, we need to recognize the commonalities for each trope so we can write them in a recognizable way and create a rudimentary sketch for any character we want to create.

But when it comes to characters, no one wants just a sketch; we want a vibrant and striking cast full of color, depth, and contrast. Diving deeper into character creation is especially important when starting with tropes because the blessing of their familiarity is also a curse; without differentiation, the characters begin to look the same from story to story.

But no more. The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus allows you to outline the foundational elements of each trope while also exploring how to individualize them. In this way, you’ll be able to use historically tried-and-true character types to create a cast for your story that is anything but traditional.

Creator (Archetype)

DESCRIPTION: Imaginative and highly driven, these characters are the artists, inventors, and scientists who feel compelled to create something totally new and innovative. Their motivation may come from a desire to write a wrong, solve a problem, meet a need, fill a personal void, or simply provide fulfillment for themselves.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein), Willy Wonka (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Jo March (Little Women), Mozart (Amadeus), Zeus (Greek mythology)

COMMON STRENGTHS: Adventurous, Ambitious, Bold, Creative, Curious, Disciplined, Focused, Idealistic, Imaginative, Independent, Industrious, Inspirational, Intelligent, Meticulous, Passionate, Persistent, Quirky, Resourceful, Talented, Uninhibited

COMMON WEAKNESSES: Compulsive, Disorganized, Irresponsible, Manipulative, Oversensitive, Perfectionist, Possessive, Self-Indulgent, Stubborn, Uncooperative, Volatile, Workaholic

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES
Being a visionary; imagining things that don’t yet exist
Thinking outside the box
Asking lots of questions
Being gifted in a given area (science, music, art, coding, etc.)
Using unconventional methods
Being highly disciplined where work is concerned
Embracing risk
Making personal sacrifices to bring their vision to fruition
Recognizing failure as a necessary part of the process
Having a long-haul perspective; understanding that creation is a process that takes timePreferring to work alone
Being hyper-focused on their work, to the exclusion of everything else
Difficulty managing their time
Struggling with deadlines
Being impatient with details and minutia
Being quirky or odd
Living on the fringes of acceptable or “proper” society
Exhibiting obsessive behaviors
Prioritizing their creative efforts over everything and everyone else
Neglecting self-care (forgetting to eat, not showering, etc.) when a project is underway
Using drugs, caffeine, or other stimulants to stay awake
Perfectionism
Seeing the flaws in even an extraordinary creation
Being hard on themselves
Foregoing marriage and children so they can be fully devoted to their art
Moodiness
Feeling misunderstood
Difficulty taking criticism from others
Sacrificing ethics and morality on the altar of creation
Struggling with personal relationships because people will always come second to the muse

SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM
Encountering a creative block
Being unable to create (due to time constraints, social pressures, lack of resources, etc.)
A physical or mental challenge requiring medication that saps their creativity
Having to take a job that provides financial stability but means less time for creative efforts
Having a clear vision but being unable to develop it with current technology
Being actively discouraged from pursuing a dream
Being distracted (by a new love interest, current events, other creative ideas, etc.)

INNER STRUGGLES TO GIVE THEM DEPTH
Doubting their abilities
Wanting to grow but being resistant to constructive criticism
Struggling to innovate while others in their field are having great success
Perfectionism keeping the character from enjoying small successes
Struggling with ethical and moral questions surrounding their work
Using creation to fill an internal void, but it doesn’t bring satisfaction or fulfillment
Wrestling with addiction
Refusing to acknowledge a mental health condition because the treatment would impact the character’s creative abilities

TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO…
Works well with others and values collaboration
Is incredibly talented but keeps their creations hidden from others
Is inspired by the act of creation itself and is unconcerned with the quality of their work
Embraces any physical or mental conditions and incorporates them into their process
Is an extrovert who loves being with people
Works with an off-putting medium or creates things that are disturbing
Has an atypical trait: analytical, cautious, organized, fussy, lazy, traditional, etc.

CLICHÉS TO AVOID
The tortured artist, plagued by their own demons
The creator who uses drugs to enhance their abilities
The mad scientist whose obsession has driven them insane
Megalomaniac creators with a god complex

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Other Type and Trope Thesaurus entries can be found here.

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